The Indian government on Thursday strongly refuted former US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to stop purchasing oil from Russia. 
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that no such phone call occurred between the two leaders and reiterated India&rsquo;s sovereign right to determine its own energy policy.
&ldquo;It has consistently been our priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer amid global energy volatility. Our import decisions are entirely guided by this principle,&rdquo; said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
Trump, while addressing reporters on October 16, alleged that Modi had assured him India would cease Russian oil imports, adding that he did not want to &ldquo;destroy [Modi&rsquo;s] political career.&rdquo; 
His remarks were part of a string of inconsistent statements made about India and its leadership.
Despite the criticism, Trump referred to Modi as a &ldquo;great friend,&rdquo; though he erroneously claimed that India had &ldquo;a new leader every year&rdquo; before Modi assumed office.
India, the world&rsquo;s third-largest oil importer, has ramped up its crude oil purchases from Russia since the start of the Ukraine war, taking advantage of discounted rates. 
The United States, however, continues to criticize such imports, arguing they indirectly support Moscow&rsquo;s war efforts.
The Modi government responded calmly, underscoring its commitment to diversifying energy sources and strengthening energy cooperation with the US. 
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly mentioned India &mdash; from taking credit for averting a potential India-Pakistan conflict to claiming that Modi withheld support for his Nobel Peace Prize ambitions.
Amid the political rhetoric, India&rsquo;s diplomatic stance has remained steady, prioritizing energy independence and advancing trade relations with global partners.

Narendra Modi meets officials discussing energy policy

MEA denies Trump’s statement on Modi halting Russian oil buys, asserts energy sovereignty

India Refutes Trump’s Claim On Russian Oil

MEA denies Trump’s statement on Modi halting Russian oil buys, asserts energy sovereignty

October 17, 2025 | 16:43 IST